The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-08-06
LIFE IN THE DIAMOND FIELDS,

SLltuJl0n, the man who Welgned, TOT the first time, the largest diamond every found in Africa. His name is J. D. Caldou. He was member of the London party of explorers that went out to South Africa in 1870. bent upon discovering diamonds and gold. And they did. The largest diamond field in the world was their reward. This diamond field is located on and near the river Voll, which is the dividing line between the Trans vaal republic and the Orange Free State. Kaywood's Hope is the name of the place. There are two kinds of diggings there, the river diggin $ and the dry diggings. At the river dig gings the process of finding diamonds is akin to that of mining for gold on tie plan employed in North Georgia. ir the dry diggings the dirt that is mined is worked through many sifters, at first coarse, but gradually getting finer and finer Kimbley is the name of the mining town.
 In 1871, when the diamond fever was at it's height, Kimbley was a canvas city of 90,000 souls. Imagi inc a great sea of tents, in which the miners and diggers found a temporary home. It had the appearance at dis tance as if an immense flock of white feathered birds covered the ground for tie space of many acres. Great hotels, made of canvas, moved from cay to day as the exigencies of the situation demanded, giving sleeping place at night to the thousands upon thousands of miners. Every roof in the town in 1870 was of canvas.
 The mining field extends over eighteen acres, divided off into claims thirty-one feet square. At first these claims were sold to the miners at ten shillings each, and were taxed an ad- dition ten shilllngs per month. After the revolution the government reor- ganized the letting of claims, and the Kimbley Mining Board decided that they were worth from twenty ve pounds to sixty pounds sterling, ac- cording to the value of the find, and were taxed also to support the kimb- ley government.
 The government of kimbley, under the control of England, consists of a governor, a judge, a superintendent of police, three magistrates, policemen and other officers necessary to the ex- ecution of the law There is no regi- ment stationed at Kimbley, though at the time the people revolted on ac- count of the excessive taxation English soldiers were stationed there until all had become quiet.
 The population of Kimbley consists of representatives from every nation on earth. The sturdy Englishman is there in perhaps the greatest number closely pressed by the enterprising American. There are Frenchmen Irishmen, Spaniards, Germans, Turks Danes, Jews, Italians, Zulus, and peo- pie from the four q. .arters of the globe.
 The fields or mines are worked by natives or "niggers," who are paid ter shillings per week and found. Thert are from eight to ten "niggers" to 6 claim, who are watched closely by al overseer. Notwithstanding the strict. est espionage, the "niggers" manage tt secrete and steal diamonds.
 Of course, there are many illici diamond buyers, who encourage tn, s'niggers" in these thefts, and who buy from them all the diamonds they cal steal. A strong feeling exists agains the illicit buyers. The evil grew tt such monstrous proportions that vigi lance committees were formed to teacl illicit buyers & lesson or two about ho.esty. Traps were laid for them.
 Trusty negroes were furnished witf diamonds, and made to act as decoyl for the illicit buyers. When one wal found, the vigilantes burned his house gave him fifty lashes upon his barr back in the public place of Kimbley and made him leave the diggings As has been stated, the "niggers' would despite the closest scrutiny manage to secrete diamonds. The At. we'll brothers, who worked claim a, Kimbley, saw miner swallow 6 fnt stone one day. They immediately seized him and cut him open regain. ing the diamondl
 Of course they were arrested and tried for murder. Judge Barry was on the bench, the jury was composed of miners,vho had no sympathy with ssniggnrsr and were essecially hard thefta; Notwithstanding the judge't effort to have justice done the sAtwell brothers were acquitted. The judge saroasticAlly thanked the jury for their impartial action and expressed the hope that when they came to be tried